NGT issues bailable warrant against Delhi chief secretary

“None is present on behalf of the government of NCT of Delhi. As nobody is present on behalf of respondent No 1- government of NCT of Delhi despite service of notice, we issue bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 10,000 to the satisfaction of the arresting officer against the chief secretary of the respondent No 1 for securing the presence under provisions of NGT Act,” a bench headed by judicial member U D Salvi said. The tribunal said it had issued the notice to the government of NCT of Delhi and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to respond before it regarding the implementation of the closure orders issued to the pickling industries. Steel pickling is the process of removing impurities, such as stains and inorganic contaminants from the metal. The bench said that the bailable warrants are returnable on July 1, the next date of hearing of the matter.

Counsel for DJB, who was present during the hearing of plea, sought some time to file its reply, which was granted by the bench. The bench was hearing a plea filed by NGO All India Lokadhikar Sangthan’s seeking execution of an order by which the green panel had directed Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take action against stainless steel pickling industries.

The green panel had issued notice to DPCC, DJB and Delhi government on implementation of closure orders against the several industrial units, mainly steel pickling units, in Wazirpur Industrial Area here for discharging harmful effluents in drains that empty in the Yamuna.

Earlier, on April 30, taking note of an NGO’s plea, the tribunal has directed Central Pollution Control Board to inspect stainless steel pickling industries in Wazirpur which are flouting mandatory pollution norms.